Addressing Situation Where Foreign Spouses of Lower-income Elderly Singaporeans Cannot Work without LTVP

Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs (a) how does the Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) application policy for foreign spouses of lower-income elderly Singaporeans avoid a catch-22 where incomes are insufficient and yet spouses cannot work without LTVPs; (b) whether ICA has modelled fiscal benefits of conditional LTVPs tied to employment versus long-term costs of institutional care from rejection; and (c) how does this support stable family formation for seniors.

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) takes several factors into account in assessing Long-Term Visit Pass applications for foreign spouses of Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents, including the length of marriage, whether the couple has children from the marriage, the ability of the household to financially sustain themselves and whether they have any adverse records. Where applicants declare specific caregiving needs, ICA also takes that into account.

Couples should check, before they get married, on the likelihood of the foreign partner obtaining long-term stay facilities. Every application has to in essence, among other factors, not end up requiring the Singaporean taxpayer to pay more eventually.